ARLINGTON- The Sam Houston State Bearkats could not overcome a four-run first inning by DePaul and picked up only three hits on the day, falling 5-0, to the Blue Demons in the opener of the UTA Maverick Tournament on Saturday at Allan Saxe Field.

Lindsey McLeod struck out seven and walked just one in 4.0 innings of work, but DePaul (9-2) was able to connect on a trio of homers in the first frame and that margin proved to be a hole too deep for Sam Houston (2-8) to climb out of.

DePaul’s Missy Zoch was nearly untouchable for the Blue Demons, going the distance and allowing just three hits and walking none with seven punchouts for the complete-game win. Codi Carpenter, Megan Crosby and Samantha Belongia would pick up the only hits of the day for the Bearkats.

Jessica Cothren gave DePaul an early lead with a 2-run homer in the first and two batters later Kate Polucha would crank the first of back-to-back homers for the Blue Demons, the second coming from Maranda Gutierrez, that gave them a 4-0 advantage.

They would add one more in the third, using a Bearkat error and a wild pitch to set up Polucha who picked up her third RBI of the day with an RBI single into center field.

Sam Houston will get another shot at the Blue Demons on Saturday in the tournament finale with first pitch set for 10:00 a.m. from Allan Saxe Field. The Kats will conclude the event with a 3:00 p.m. game against the host, UT Arlington.